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In a 2019-20 campaign where we saw many things come to a standstill, it’s so refreshing to know that a brand-new season is upon us. The most-watched football league in the world - the English Premier League - is back, with many new faces looking to make a good first impression.
This window, the top six teams in England have all strengthened certain areas as they look to break into or maintain their top-4 status, which would ensure Champions League football the next season. However, to achieve the same, the performances of a few key players, of whom a lot is expected of, will be key.
5 players who could produce big performances this season:
#5: Anthony Martial (Manchester United)
It feels like it has been a long time coming for Anthony Martial. For so many seasons, the Frenchman has flattered to deceive, failing to live up to the hype around him.
Last season, we finally saw glimpses of the Martial that fans had always been waiting for. The 24-year-old notched up 17 goals and provided seven assists in 32 league games.
This season, Manchester United fans will be expecting the Frenchman to continue his good form and produce a 20-goal season, a tally that could help get the team closer to Manchester City and Liverpool.
With the club still actively pursuing a deal for Jadon Sancho, it’s clear that one of Manchester United’s current top three may have to drop out. Martial will have to live up to his hype if he’s to keep his place in the team beyond this season.
#4: Phil Foden (Manchester City)
Pep Guardiola once described Phil Foden as the most talented player he’s ever seen. That is high praise from a man who has worked with Lionel Messi.
For those who’ve seen Foden play, Guardiola's statement is hardly an understatement. The Spanish tactician has groomed Foden to be the outgoing David Silva’s replacement, which means the young Englishman will be starting a lot of games this season.
Although Foden has been earmarked for a massive season with City, the controversy surrounding his departure from the England camp may sow seeds of doubts in the minds of City fans.
Phil Foden's talent is there for all to see, but whether he has the maturity or temperament to succeed remains to be seen.
#3: Mason Greenwood (Manchester United)
Mason Greenwood, who has been touted by Alan Shearer himself to break his Premier League goal-record, stunningly broke onto the scene last season.
Towards the back end of the 2019-20 campaign, Greenwood became an integral part of Manchester United’s attacking play as his teammates became more and more reliant on the teenager's moments of brilliance. The 18-year-old managed to score ten league goals, a feat not many before him had achieved at his age.
This season, fans will be looking for more of the same from Mason Greenwood. Regardless of whether Jadon Sancho joins United or not, Greenwood’s ambidextrous ability will present him as a threat to any team in the Premier League. Of course, we must remember that he’s only 18, but his talent puts him in an entirely different bracket.
#2: Nicolas Pepe (Arsenal)
It was a topsy-turvy debut season in England for Nicolas Pepe. He was signed by Arsenal for a club-record fee of £72million, a price tag that both worried the club's fans and neutrals alike.
Such an enormous price tag only heaped pressure on the Ivorian, pressure he couldn’t live up to. That’s why the 25-year-old’s tally of five goals and six assists in 31 league games wasn't deemed good enough.
It wasn’t just his productivity that was unimpressive; Pepe's overall play was disappointing too, which was evident in the fact that he was Arsenal’s most dispossessed player last season.
However, it must be said that towards the end of the season, Arsenal fans saw glimpses of the real Pepe, especially under the tutelage of Mikel Arteta. However, it remains to be seen whether the young player can translate that into game-winning performances on a consistent basis.
#1: Kai Havertz (Chelsea)
When a top club chases you for an entire summer, and you're dubbed as the finest talent in Germany, it’s evident you have a lot to live up to. Kai Havertz is the wonderkid many are branding as generational, and it’s clear there will be expectations aplenty from the player at Chelsea.
Despite only being 21 years of age, Havertz has scored a phenomenal 77 goals in 150 senior appearances for Bayern Leverkusen. Such a strike-rate suggests that he could become one of the finest players in the Premier League.
Chelsea completed the signing of Havertz on the 4th of September in a deal worth £71million. That kind of price tag for a 21-year-old will only heap more pressure on his young shoulders. As a player who can play on either flank and as an advanced playmaker, Havertz will have many opportunities to flourish under Frank Lampard.
